Lye-crushing machine



J. R. GILDA.

LYE CRUSHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 1. 191a.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

2 SHEE1S-SHEET l- J. R. GILDA. LYE causmms MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- I, I918- 1 ,375,5-O3. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Z2 $HEETSSHEETZ- 2 I 2/ e2 lauumum 5 1/ I l E 2f 5 a 38 n In I .4 2 61f UNHT JOHN R. GILDA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF"TO WM.'SCHIELD,

' OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. I 1

LYE-cnnsHme MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19,1921.

Application filed November 1, 1918. Serial No. 260,852.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be. it known that 1, JOHN R. GlLDA, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful improvements in LyeCrushing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof,

This invention relates generally to reducing or crushing machines and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in machines especially adapted for crushing lye, the chief object of my present invention being to provide a readily operated machine, simple, positive, and substan tially automatic in its operations, for inexpensively, conveniently, and eiiiciently reducing, crushing, or breaking lye from ahard, solid, one-piece or so-called drum form, into relatively small lumps or, as it might be described, into a more or less loosely divided form or condition, preparatory to milling or grinding for commercial use in various compounds or preparations or for other desired purposes.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in certain novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a side elevational view of a machine constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention in preferred form;

Fig. is a so-called rear end elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine;

is a detail elevational view, partly in section, of the lye-drum advancing or' feeding mechanism of the machine;

Fig.5 is a detail sectional view of the releasing gears of the lye-drum feeding mechanism of the machine; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view,

partly broken away and in section, of the driving ratchet and its cooperating unidirectional pawls of the lye-drum feeding mechanism.

Referring to the said drawings, in which like reference characters ref r to like parts throughout the several views, the frame of the machine comprises a pair of suitable main standards 1+1, shown only fragmentarily and which are rigidly fixed together in parallel spaced relation by cross or tiebars, not shown. Mounted upon the standards 1 and rigidly fixed thereto, as by tiebolts 2, are substantially rectangular relatively heavy plates 3+8, disposed vertically in parallel correspondingly spaced relation, the plates 3 being preferably provided at and alon their edges with outwardly presented flanges adapted not only to reinforce the plates against buckling, but alsofor the convenient securement of various parts of the machine, as hereinaftermore fully appears. Supported and suitably fixed atits side edges upon the top fian 'es of the plates between, is a trough 4 preferably somewhat l-shaped in end or sectional elevation, as seen in Fig. 2, trough at constituting and providing a support or table for the lyedrum or other material to be worked or operated upon.

At the front end of the machine, the

trough or table a has secured thereto a pair of cutting-blades 5, whose cutting edges substantially'parallel the sectional trend of the trough, in order to provide a. shearing cut, and thereby more eiiiciently cooperate, with a movable blade 6 disposed transversely of the trough 4- and substantially straight throughout its length, the blades 5 being preferably detachable from the trough for purposes of sharpening, repair, and the like. Theblade 6 is secured to and carried by a cross-head 7 arranged for reciprocat-ory vertical movement or travel in suitable guide or slide-ways formed .or provided by parallel pairs of cobperating standards 8-9 dis- '3 and extending across the machine thereposed vertically at opposite sides of the matransversely of the machine beneath the trough or table 4 and preferably project at each end beyond the outer-face of the plates 3 for purposes shortly appearing.

Mounted on one projecting end of shaft 10 is a belt or other drive-wheel 14, and mounted on the other or opposite projecting end of the shaft 10 is a relatively small wheel15,-which latter meshes with a somewhat larger gear-wheel 16 mounted upon the corresponding end of shaft 12. Fixed onthe shaft 12 intermediate the plates is a. relatively small gear-wheel '17, which meshes with a larger gear-wheel 18 correspondinglyfixed on the shaft 13. Fixed on one projecting end of the shaft 13, is a relatively small gear-wheel 19, which meshes with a relatively large gear-wheel 20 fixed upon the corresponding end of shaft 11, a wheel 21 having substantially the diameter of Wheel 20 being fixed upon the opposite end of shaft 11. Eachwheel 20- 21 carries a Wrist-pin 22, which, in turnpare connected to the opposite ends of the cross-:

head 7' by operating pitmen 23, whereby the cross-head 7 and its carried knife 6 are caused to reclprocatorily travel during the operation of the machine. The gears and their shafts described are compactly arranged in the machine and provide a simple speed-reducing gear for the movable knife 6, the speed ofreciprocation of the knife 6 beingconsiderably-less than the speed of rotation of the main or belt-wheel 14, and

through the multiplication of reductiongears there is obtained in the machine rela tively great power for the cross-head 7 and its carried knife 6 with a relatively small amount of power applied at the main or belt-wheel 14.

Fixed to the flanged rear end of the plates 3, is a pair of rearwardly presented brackets 24, mounted upon which in alining relation across the machine are small standards 25, each bracket 24 carrying two of '"j the standards 25 in properly spaced relation.

Mounted for rotation in the standards 25 and extending transversely across the machine, are shafts 26-26, fixed upon which in tandem relation approximately centrally of the machine are gear-wheels 27-27 arranged to mesh with a toothed rack 28 formed or provided longitudinally on a lengthwise movable push-bar 29 carrying at its forward end a suitable ram preferably in the form of a circular plate 30 arranged to travel upon the trough or table 4 for feeding or advancing the lye-drum or other material being operated upon to the cutting-blades before described. Also mounted for rotation in the standards 25 and extending transversely of the machine above the shafts 26, are shafts 31 -31, which carry grooved idlers 32 immediately above the gears 2T-2'T, adapted to engage the pushdiiar 29to hold the same in operative position in the machine and also in engagement with the gears rack 28 for feeding the push-bar 29 and its carried ram 30 forwardly. Keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 34 to one side of the gear-wheel 35, is a peripherally grooved wheel 36, having mounted thereupon a pref erably adjustable friction-band 3'2, suitably engaging with which are pins 38 projecting laterally from the gear-wheel 35. Such con- 1 struction forms a clutch or friction drive for the ram-feeding or driving gear-wheel and provides for slipping" to prevent breakage of the feeding mechanism in the event of a jam in the material.

Keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 34'to the opposite side of the gear-wheel 35, 18 a shaft-drivingratchet-wheel 39, and mounted to oscillate upon the shaft to one side of the ratchet-Wheel 39, a lever comprising arms 40'41, the lever-arm 40 having or being provided at its free end with a socket 42 and spaced perforated ears 43-43 Mounted for rotatory movement in the ears 4 3-43, is a rock-shaft 44 which carries a pawl 45 adapted for cooperative driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39 and a releasing arm 46 adapted for engagement by a pin 47 carried by the gear-wheel 35. The ratchet-operating pawl 45 is spring-held to its working or driving position by means comprising a non-circuiar block 48v fixed on the shaft 44 and a coiiperating spring pressed disk 49 disposed in the lever-socket 42 immediately therebeneath. Normally, under the spring-pressure of its cooperating disk 49, the block 48 is in the position thereof shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and when in such position, the pawl 45 will be yieldingly held in driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39. Opposite lever-arm 41 is pivotally connected at its free end to one end of a forwardly projecting link. 50 pivotally connected at its other end to one end of a lever 51 suitably mounted for oscillatory movement upon a transverse shaft 53 supported at its ends by the plates 3. Pivotally connected at one end to the lever 51 at a point intermediate the shaft and the pivoted connection between lever 51 and link 50, is a link or bar 54 provided at its other end with an elongated eye 55 embracing the shaft 11, the shaft 11 thusproviding a suport for thefree end of the link or bar 54.

founted on the shaft 11 adjacent the bar 54, is a cam 56 arranged to engage a roller 57 mounted on the link 54 and thereby, on-cach rotation of theshaft 11,-actuate the bar 54 to I ratchet-wheel 39.

rearwardly against the tension of a restoring-spring 58 fastened at its opposite ends to one of the frame-standards l and to the lower or free end of the oscillating lever 51. Thus, as will be evident, as the shaft I1 is rotated, the pawl through its supporting oscillatory lever and its said levers link and lever connection with the shaft 11, will be caused to successively engage the teeth of, and thereby, drive the ratchet-wheel39 and, following, through the shaft 34, clutchwheel 36, and gear-wheel 35, effect a step-bystep progression of the ram 30 and consequent forward feeding of the material being acted upon toward the cooperating cuttingblades at the front end of the machine, the movable blade 6 being reciprocated vertically on each rotation of the shaft 11. The parts of my machine are so relatively proportioned that, on each complete revolution of the ram driving gear the ram 30 will be actuated forwardly distance approximately equal to the length of the table or trough 4, the forward progressive movement of the 3O continuing until on the rotation of gear 35, its carried pin'47 is brought into engagement with the shaftarm 46. Gn engagement of th arm 46 by the pin 4?, the shaft 4i will be rocked sut'dciently to lift the pawl from operative engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39, the pawl 4'5 thereafter, and until again brought into driving engagement with the ratchetwheel 39, oscillating without effect upon the At the same time, on the described rocking of the shaft 44, the block 48 will be caused to present a flat face, as at 48', to the disr; 49, or, in other words, caused to occupy the position thereof shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and pawl 45, through its supporting-shaft 44, yieldingly held in elevated position out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39.

The reduction or crushing of a lye-drum or other material being operated upon having been accomplished by the cooperating blades during such forward progressive movement of t e ram 30, and the pawl 45 being now out of driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39, the ram 30 is returned to its original, rearmostor starting position, and for such purpose a suitable sprocketwheel 59 is fixed upon one end of one, and preferably the rear, shaft 26, which, as before described, carries a gear-wheel 2? meshing with the rack 28 of the ram. This sprocketwheel 59 is chain or otherwise suitably connected with a second sprocket-wheel 60 suitably mounted upon the frame of the machine and provided with an operating crank 61 conveniently accessible to an operator on the ground. Or, for a similar purpose, the said shaft 26 may be provided with a handwheel 62 for convenient rotation by an operator on the machine; The ram 30 being 63 having connection at its upper end with 'an arm 64 rigidly connected to theshaft 44 is manually lifted by the operator and shaft 44 reversely rocked to restore the block 48, against the tension of its spring-pressed cooperating .disk 49, to its described normal position, the pawl 45 being accordingly returned to driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39. v

To hold the ram 80 from retrograde move.- ment during cutting operations of the blades, I plovide a holding or unidirectional pawl 65 for gravity engagement with the ratchetwheel 39, the pawl 65 being suitably mounted loosely upon preferably the rear shaft 26, as'seen particularly'in Fig. 3. "When the main or driving pawl 45 is lifted or moved out of operative driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel 39, the holding pawl 65 will be likewise moved, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, by means of a lifter 66, which is fixed atone end to the holdingpawl65 and which, at its other end, loosely rests 011 the driving-pawl 45, as shown.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Pati cut is:

1. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination, a table, a reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, and mechanism for synchronously reciprocating the blade and effecting a progressive step-by-step movement of the ram, said mechanism including a rack-bar fixed to the ram, a' driving gear meshing with the rack-bar, a pawl and ratchet having driving connection with the gear, pitmen pivotally connected to the cutting-blade,'a rotary shaft, and operating connections between the shaft and both the pawl and pitmen.

2. A material crushing machine. comprising, in combination, a table, a reciprocatory cutting-blade, means for feeding material along the table to the blade, and mechanism forreciprocating the blade and effecting a progressive step'by-step movement of the feeding means, said mechanism including a rack-bar fixed to the ram, a driving gear meshing with the rack-bar, a pawl and ratchet having driving connection with the gear, a rotary shaft, disks on the shaft, a cam on the shaft, pitmen pivotally connected to the disks and to the blade, and link and lever operating connections between the pawl and shaft adapted for actuation by the cam on rotation of the shaft. 7

3. A material crushing'machine comprising a table and a reciprocatory cuttingblade, in combination with a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, mechanism including a pair of cocperating interengaging members for effecting a progressive feeding movement of the ram, and means for automatically disengaging said members to effect a stoppage of the feeding movement of the ram after a predetermined travel.

4:. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with a table and a re ciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, and mechanism for effecting a progressive step-by-step feeding movement of the ram, said mechanism including a rack carried by the ram, a driving gear meshing with the rack, a ratchet-wheel for driving the 'gear, a pawl for driving the ratchet-wheel, a rotary shaft, a cam on the shaft, and link and lever operating connections between the pawl and shaft adapted for actuation by the cam V on rotation of the shaft.

A material crushing machine compris ing, in combination with a table and a reciprocatory cuttingeblade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, mechanism including a cotiperating ratchetwheel and driving-pawl for effecting a progressive feeding movement of the ram, and

' means for automatically tripping thepawl out of driving engagement with the ratchetwheel to effect a stoppage of feeding move ment of the ram after a predetermined travel. a a i 6. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with a table and a reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, mechanism for effecting a progressive feeding movement of the ram, said mechanism including av yieldingly held rockshaft, a ratchet-wheel, and a pawl on the shaft normally in driving engagement with the i'atchetqvheel, and means for automatically. rocking the shaft to lift the pawl out of driving engagement with the ratohetrwheel to effect a stoppage of feeding movement of the ram after a predetermined travel.

7. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with a table and a reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, mechanism for effectinga progressive feeding movement of the ram, said mechanism including a rotary shaft, a yieldingly held rock-shaft, a gear-wheel on the rotary shaft,

a ratchet-wheel on the rotary shaft, and a pawl on the rock-shaft normally in driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and means including cooperating members on the gear-wheel and roclnshaft for automatically rocking the rock-shaft to lift the pawl out of driving engagement with theratchettravel.

8. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with a table and a reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade mechanism including a ratchet-wheel and a cooperating pawl for efiecting a progressive feeding movement of the ram, means for'lifting the pawl out of driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel to effect a stop page of feeding movement of the ram, and means for restoring the pawl into driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel.

9. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with'a table and a reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, means including a ratchet-wheel for effecting a feeding movement of the ram, a yieldingly held rock-shaft, a pawl on the rock-shaft for actuating the ratchetwheel, the pawl being normally in driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel, means for rocking the shaft to lift the ratchet-wheel out of normal driving engagement with the ratchet-wheel to effect a stoppage of feeding movement of the ram, and means for reversely rocking the shaft to restore the pawl into normal driving engagement with the ra chetwheel.

10. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with a table and a reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, and a slip-providing drive mechanism for the ram;

11. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination with a table and av reciprocatory cutting-blade, a ram for feeding material along the table to the blade, and a slip-providing drive mechanism for the ram, said mechanism including a rotary shaft, a friction-wheel fixed to the shaft, a gear-wheelloosely mounted on the shaft, friction-band upon the friction-wheel, and lateral pins on the gear-wheel having engagement with said band. i

12. A material crushing machine comprising, in combination, a table, guide-way providing standards disposed approximately vertically relatively to the table, a cuttingblade carrying cross-head mounted for reciprocatory movement in said guide-ways at an angle relatively to the table, mechanism for feeding material along the table to the cross-head, and mechanism for reciprocating the cross-head and its carried blade, said last named mechanism including a rotary shaft, wheels fixed to the shaft, and pitmen pivotally connected to said wheels and to the cross-head.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

1 JOHN R. GILDA. 

